Results Calendar Course Details
Racing in the A5 Rangers
There are two main types of on-road racing in the UK, massed start (normally referred to simply as "road racing") and Time-trialling, where riders set off at 1 minute intervals to cover a set course against the clock. Time trials are normally over a fixed distance, e.g. 5, 10, 25, 50 miles, so that riders can compare their performance against previous attempts, although the course and weather conditions will also affect times.
The A5 Rangers are, predominantly, a time-trialling club and the following paragraphs describe the key events and courses we use.
CLUB 5 MILE TIME TRIAL
The A5 Rangers are, as far as we know, unique in offering a series of 5 mile time trials in the cycling world (in the UK at least). This distance is intended as an entry for untried racers such as young aspirants. This is not to say that experienced riders do not ride them or enjoy riding them, they do and frequently.
There are awards for this distance for both juniors and seniors
which are keenly sought after. We provide three courses for this event, 2 of
which are based between Whittlebury and
Silverstone and proceed through Silverstone
village, turn and retrace to near the start. The other course is north of
Towcester, at Duncote. This course joins the
CLUB 10 MILE TIME TRIAL
At the time of writing this, our normal 10 mile course is a testing circuit with several inclines, which although not severe are nevertheless hard. There is also a relatively flat 10 course based near Tingewick. The Greens Norton course starts in the village and proceeds to Litchborough, Maidford, Blakesley before returning to Greens Norton. It is on quiet roads with very light traffic volume and is a favourite with club-men and women and members from other clubs. There are plans to introduce another 10 course on less demanding terrain using the Silverstone roads but that is for the future. The fairly flat 10 mile at Tingewick proceeds to Brackley and returns to finish near the start.
There are also cups and awards for this distance,
which is for the more experienced rider and can be seen as the
second stage in the development of a rider who has progressed through the 5 mile
races.
CLUB 25 MILE TIME TRIAL
The
25 mile time trials are for the more accomplished and race-experience rider. A
rider who is obviously cycling fit and knows how to settle into a race and get
the best out of him- or herself, the length and
endurance needed to complete the distance require that experience to
enjoy racing for just under if one if really fit and strong, or just over if not
so fast but can still race at this distance without too much spain and strain.
There are 2 25-mile courses. One starts near Tingewick and uses the roads south
of Bicester and the other starts in Towcester, uses the new A43 for part of the
course and other roads south of Bicester before finishing in Silverstone. Again,
there are cups and awards for this distance of racing.
CLUB 50 MILE TIME TRIAL
The Club no longer has a 50-mile course of its own. Instead we use another club’s course and one of their events to ride for the trophy and cups on offer. This distance is definitely for the experience and fit rider and inexperienced riders are not encouraged to ride for 50 miles in racing mode. The event we use for our awards is the Norland Combine - this is a confederation of 23 clubs that promote and help promote races over the season. Progression to this distance should be gradual and through the 5 mile, 10 mile and 25 mile route. Some riders actually prefer 50 mile events to 5 and 10 mile events.